Perspective: Voices and votes for Florida's children

Guest Column

Jack Levine, PresidentCenter for Florida's Children

Published Sunday, November 03, 2002

For 23 years I've advocated for children and their right to live healthy, secure, and productive lives. As both a parent and professional advocate, I understand that every child's well-being is directly hinged on the ability and willingness of parents to take responsibility. Children are not able to survive on their own either physically or emotionally.

I now realize, too, that children cannot survive on their own politically.

They are totally dependent upon responsible adults to act on their behalf by voting and holding elected officials accountable.

In reality, however, parents are not active partners in politics. Just one of six parents who works outside the home is a frequent voter-defined as voting in three of the past four elections. This may be one of the prime reasons that so many children are at risk. Far too many children in Florida, and throughout the nation - suffer in areas of health, safety, education and violence because those responsible for their care have left politics up to others.

I know that parents are busy. Every parent's day is a frenzy of crisis management. As time speeds by, the flurry of matching socks, packing lunches, checking homework, racing around to work, running errands and cleaning up after the little ones seems never-ending. What parent has time to think about politics, candidates and platforms, let alone become an active participant?

The challenge is magnified by the reality that election laws are blatantly anti-parent. Election days are always on a Tuesday, a workday. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but most parents are busy from pre-sunrise to bedtime. Election laws were passed when there was no traffic or highway commute. Plus, we vote here we live, not where we work. Even if there were such a thing as a lunch hour, voting during that break would take three hours for some commuting parents.

Given these obstacles, it's no wonder that politics are nowhere near the top of many parents' priority lists. As a result, on many politicians' priority lists, parents and children are too often near the bottom.Let's face facts: Politics is a numbers game, pure and simple. Since candidates are playing to win, they respond to citizens who vote. The greater the number of voters who express interest in children, the greater the likelihood that a candidate will take notice.Will Rogers said it best: "Smart politicians know where there's a parade, and get in front of it." Parents have the obligation, and should be given every opportunity, to be partners in democracy. Voting in every election, assisting others to register and vote and putting children first should be natural extensions of the parenting role. When candidates are asked for real solutions to the challenges families face, their "pro-family" slogans are put to the test. Real family values are rooted in healthy children who are economically secure and safe from harm.To move politics from rhetoric to reality, the voices of parents and grandparents must demand clarity and content. Lip service should be replaced by public service. If parents and others who care for children assert their power as voters, the days of kissing babies on the campaign trail and forgetting them on election night could be over.

Here are a few ideas to promote politically responsible parenting:

This year's General Election Day on Tuesday will have numerous constitutional initiatives and a long lists of candidates. There will be long lines at most polling places during morning and evening peak hours. We urge advocates to vote absentee through the mail or participate in early voting. Election Day is the last day to legally vote, but not the first day to vote.

Child care directors, school principals, religious leaders and family service agency executives can encourage parents to vote by putting upcoming election date notices in parent bulletins and newsletters. Ask 10 friends and relatives whether they will commit to voting this year as a personal pledge to you and the children.

To help parents avoid the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. time crunch, child-care centers can stay open extra hours on election days, with some parents volunteering to help with supervision. Centers can host "I'm voting for my children" parties, with a special gift for those who arrive with an "I voted" sticker.In our democracy, voting is not just a right, it's a responsibility. Voting is, by far, the most significant expression of personal commitment to those who have sweated, bled and died for our right to participate in democracy.Such sacrifices deserve to be honored.

Now more than ever, decisions about health care, quality early care, education and public safety will be made at the state and local levels.

Will children be treated fairly? Their only hope is if those with direct responsibility for their care -- parents and grandparents -- vote for candidates who will vote for kids.

Worry and regret are part of every parent's life. We worry that bad things may happen, and we often regret the things we could have done but didn't do for or with our children. I hope the 2002 election cycle will be a time when our earnest worry for our children will motivate political action on their behalf. This year, to prevent future regret, we should vote as if our children's lives depend on it.